Tom Brake MP urges local residents to support petition for safer legislation on fireworks

January 26, 2004 12:00 AM

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington is asking local residents to sign a petition calling for better legislation on the sale and use of fireworks.

The petition calls for increased legislation to regulate the sale, use and size of fireworks, specifically to:

Require all public firework displays to be controlled by a licensed pyrotechnician

Restrict the times of year fireworks can be bought

Restrict times of day fireworks can be set off

License all vendors of fireworks to meet strict safety criteria and to give Trading Standards the power to revoke the license of any vendor caught selling fireworks to underage children.

Mr Brake said, "I strongly believe that action is necessary on this issue to curb the distress and growing nuisance that fireworks are causing throughout the year to both residents and their pets. Once we present the petition to Downing Street, I hope that the Government will respond positively to our demands for action."

The petition, along with petitions collected by other MPs, will be presented to Parliament.